Sport
13 May, 2021
Bowler joins prestigious club
MARGARET Sumner’s glittering bowling career continues to produce the highest of accolades.
MARGARET Sumner’s glittering bowling career continues to produce the highest of accolades.
The Terang bowler was last week inducted into the Bowls Victoria Hall of Fame as part of the first batch of women to be included in the prestigious club.
Sumner, an Order of Australian (OAM) medal recipient, Betty Collins OAM, Dot Jenkinson and Edna Harling were all recognised as the latest inductees in the Hall of Fame alongside Arnold O’Brien OAM and John Snell.
Sumner’s induction comes in the midst of a stunning 42 year career, which continues to this day, that has netted her numerous club, district and state titles, alongside representation of her state and
country at events including the 1994 and 1998 Commonwealth Games.
She said it was “a great honour” to be recognised in the Hall of Fame.
“It’s the first time women have been inducted into the Bowls Victoria Hall of Fame,” Sumner said.
“There used to be two entities – the Royal Victoria Bowls Association for the men and the Victorian Ladies Bowls Association until they unified about seven or eight years ago.
“I’m not sure how many men are in there (because of that) but it’s the first lot of ladies and I’m in with top quality.
“I didn’t expect it because I didn’t know they had it, so it was a great thrill to be named. I’d never thought I’d ever be that good a bowler.”
Being inducted alongside Collins and Jenkinson only added to the romance of Sumner’s inclusion, with the pair both mentoring the local bowler at national and international level in her formative years.
“Betty Collins was a Victorian, Australian and world president over the years and also managed us when we went away so she was like a mother to us,” Sumner said.
“Only five play in the Australian team and seven went to the Commonwealth Games so I’ve known her for a number of years and she is a great woman and a great president.
“Dottie has since passed away but she played for Australia and Victoria and she was well established in the team when I came into it, so I learnt a lot off her there like shots to play, when to play them, how to play them.
“They were both mentors most definitely. We were the younger brigade because we didn’t know too much but they’d been there and done it all. You always listened to them, you never told them what to do.”
Sumner said Harling continued to amaze at her age, with the Shepparton local also enjoying a distinguished career at local, state and national level.
“I never played in a team with her but I played in trials that she was in,” she said.
“She was there the other night and she still knew me which was great.
“She’s 105 and still going as good as ever. Her speech was as good as anyone’s, she’s still got all her faculties and she bowled until she was 97 (which was a great effort).”
Now in her early 80s, Sumner’s love for the game remains as strong as ever.
She enjoys the camaraderie, the competition, the spectating, just about everything that is associated with the game of bowls.
Even last week she spent hours greenside watching the best of Victoria battling it out.
“Just meeting people, playing with friends, representing the club – just the love of it has kept me in it as has the showing you could still hold your own against the younger ones,” Sumner said.
“That still draws me back – I go up and have a practice and a talk and a bit of fun.
“I watched every day for a week in Bendigo (last week). They had the Champions week and I was there at eight in the morning and was only getting back to my hotel at half past four, five o’clock each day.
“The whole state has representatives there from each region so it’s good to see who’s winning and who’s not, who’s there and who’s not and who’s young and old.”
Also central to Sumner’s decorated career is Terang.
She calls the club home, adding she would like to see her career out on her beloved green.
“Mum and Dad started in Mortlake but moved into Terang and played here so I’ve just kept it going,” Sumner said.
“It’s home Terang – I don’t like those who move around a lot, I think if you’re at a club you help them and dedicate yourself to it and do whatever you can for it.
“It’s been very good to me so why would I leave?”